Columbia Wool Jacket Thoughts and Questions

[buckeyebowhunter]

Last week I bought one of the Columbia Monarch Pass Wool Jackets, I got a pretty good deal on it. I have had the matching pants for a few years now and always thought they were pretty warm and had a really good camo pattern/color so this is why I went ahead and bought the jacket. After recieving it in the mail I decided to try it outside for a few hours, the temperature was about 29 degrees with about a 15mph wind. Pretty darn cold for Ohio.. Anyways I noticed a few things, the thickness of the Columbia monarch pass jacket does not seem to be as thick as the Columbia Gallatin range pants that I have? Also the jacket was pretty warm except for the areas in the sleeves that are not padded; the wind cut right through them. I was also dissapointed that he jacket was kinda short, but very large in the sleeves? This jacket is not bad for the money but I am definately going to need some sort of wind blocking layer underneath and was wondering if anyone could give me some suggestions on what they wear under this jacket. I considered the cabelas windshear pullover wool sweater (Kinda Pricey) but I have heard that the windshear is kinda loud. Also just wondering how many layers you guys wear and what kind of layering you guys use for cold November and late season hunting with the Columbia stuff. Any thoughts and advice for this jacket would be great!

[Archie]

My windshear stuff isn't too loud.  I just started with wool this year, and my wooltimate windshear has exceeded my expectations.

I don't know what other wind-blocking wool there is out there.  Maybe some TG sponsors have some?

[LKH]

Sorry, but putting the windblocking material underneath won't do much good.  The wind will still take the heat out of the wool quite rapidly.

I've got a ton of wool (wife is a sewing addict) and it works best under some of my polarfleece windbloc she's sewn for me.  Only exception is a pair of white and black plaid pants she made from some very heavy jacket wool.  

All wool jackets aren't the same.  Some have a looser weave.  Others are nearly windproof but quite heavy, especially when wet.

[buckeyebowhunter]

If the windblocking underneath wont do much good then why do most hunting jackets have wind liners on the interior instead of exterior? Just wondering. I know the Columbia stuff is not as tight as weave as say sleeping indian, not even close. But I just cant afford a set of sleeping indian or KOM stuff. There has to be a way to make the Columbia more affective against wind, just looking for some options.

[LKH]

If you can come up with some windbloc polarfleece, try it both inside and outside the wool.  The only problem with this is if it gets too tight and compresses against your body, then it may be hard to tell the difference.

[Billy]

Congrats on yer new jacket.
A golfer's wind shirt will make a difference.

Something with a very tight weave over the unders and inside the jacket will help.

When you get to the "snug" between layers point, you have to back off. Each layer should move freely or your new jacket will only conduct the cold and wind..works for me, anyway.

Good luck with the search.

[Jim Boettcher]

I've been wearing the Gallatin Range set for a few years now. I find it inadiquite. I'm tall and lanky with no body fat to speak of. So, I layer heavily. 2 sets of baselayers of fleece, fleece wader liner bottoms, then the wool pants. Usually 2 wool sweaters and fleece vest, then the wool jacket. Some how I still manage to draw the bow with this bulk. Keeps me on stand usually 4 or 5 hours.

[killinstuff]

I cut the sleeves off and cut the hood down and made a collar out of it so the jacket is now a vest. Made a piss poor jacket but makes a real nice vest.

[Caleb Monroe]

I had the same problem. Love the pants. I wear under armour cold gear, heavy flannel shirt, fleece vest. I have also looked for something to cut the wind. The vest helps alot but am thinking a windproof vest would work.

[buckeyebowhunter]

Seems like everyone is experiencing the same as I did. like Killinstuff mentioned the sleeves dont seem to keep the wind out at all. Does anyone have any experience with the cabelas fatigue windshear sweater? Looks like it might be worth trying.

[LKH]

The windproof needs to be the out layer.

The ideal jacket would be a layer about 1/2" thick of pure vaccuum with a fuzzy layer on each side.  Unfortunately that's impossible so we do the next best thing, find a material with a slow transfer rate for heat and fill it with very small air bubbles.  Note: styrofoam, thinsulate, and for caribou, hollow hair.

The reason the loose weave wool jacket doesn't work well in the wind is that the air pockets get emptied rapidly.  Putting the windbloc on the outside solves this.

[NoCams]

buckeye,
Bought one of the Cabelas windshear fatigue sweaters last year on clearance and it is pretty nice. Warm, wind will not come thru. Minuses.... a little heavy and a little loud. Not so sure a deer would hear it but as you move around peeking behind you and stuff like that it sure seems loud to me. All my Columbia wool is dead silent and warm, as long as the wind is no more than 5mph. On a cold day with wind over 10mph you feel like you are wearing a porch screen !!!

I am pretty much using my Asbell pullovers and layering with goodwill sweaters from now on. Went last week and bought several 100% merino and cashmere sweaters for less than $5 !!! If only they had bottoms to match ! Will buy some Minus 33 mid weight to try out for next year, hear good things about it and cannot afford Ulffrotte' any longer, sheeesh it has went up ! Glad I bought mine years ago when I did.

[chanumpa]

Im with no cams on this one.I have picked up 3 of those merinos now at the thriftys for under 5 a piece for under layer.They really work well.I have a couple of the moderns,and they dont compare.wore on ice fishing today -10 with a wool sweater over it and i was warm all day.

[chanumpa]

Oh yeah,Ive got the old Gallatin series stuff and Columbia were fools for discontinueing it.

[Rick Richard]

I purchase my Wooltimate Windshear about the same time Archie did and I really like this stuff.  The only down side is it is a little heavy if you are planning on doing much walking.  However for most of us who stand hunt, the stuff is awesome.

I also read some reviews where a couple of folks said it was a bit noisy, however I disagree.  This stuff is plenty quiet.

[bswear]

First of all, I will go on record that Ohio is one of the hardest places in the country to stay warm.  Why?  Humidity.  You can freeze here at 32 deg and be comfortable out west in the same gear at 15 deg.  I wear wool and have Fiilson mostly but some Sleeping Indian.  If its windy and you are stationary the only thing that will work for me is a shell.  I use the LL Bean technical shell over my wool.  Is it noisy?  A little but it doesn't really matter because its windy if  I am wearing it.

[Bill Turner]

If your not happy with the Columbia wool sell it and replace it with one of Ron LaClairs gray "Longhunter" shirts. Works great in cold weather with a high tec blended turtle neck by Nike, etc. that wicks moisture away from your body. One of Teresa's blanket weight wool pullovers will work as well. I'm like you, the loose weave in the Columbia series will just not keep you warm on those cold, windy winter days.  

[Archie]

I found this season that putting on my windshear vest over my Asbell wool zip-hoodie worked really well.  The windshear over the Asbell kept the wind from blowing the "heat" out of it.